WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. – The University of Montevallo Wrestling team debuted at the Pepsi Patriot Open on Saturday, Nov. 4, with multiple outstanding performances.
 
The Falcons finished the first event of the program's history with 10 placers, three finalists, and two champions in the Patriot Open.
 
27 wrestlers represented the Falcons in the inaugural event across all 10 weight classes in both the freshman/sophomore brackets and open brackets.
 
Freshman Chad Strickland earned the first win in program history as he defeated Cumberland's Mason McClung in an 8-1 decision in the Championship Round 1 of the 141 freshman/sophomore 141 bracket.
 
Freshman Derek Hussey and Redshirt-Junior Transfer Gabe Hixenbaugh each became the first two wrestlers in Montevallo history to post-championship wins. Hussey, a native of Alabaster, Alabama went 5-0 in the freshman/sophomore bracket of the 174-weight class. His championship win was a 4-3 decision over Cumberland's Anthony Pyron.
 
Hixenbaugh – also a native of Alabaster, Alabama – joined his high school teammate Hussey, in going 5-0 on the day as he won the 133 open bracket with a 15-0 technical fall win over Marian's Anthony Hughes.
 
In addition to Hussey and Hixenbaugh, Trent Gilham joined the trio of Falcons to finish as a finalist in the open. The Springville, Alabama native won by sudden victory over Cumberland's Conner Burrus to advance to the finals of the freshman/sophomore 149 bracket. In the final, Gilham fell by decision, 12-5, to Cumberland's Ty Lehman.

"I am extremely proud of the guys this weekend. It was amazing to see the team finally compete after all the hard work we put in since we got everyone to campus," said Head Coach Daniel Ownbey. "Being a first year program and having 10 placers in our very first open is incredible and we have now set the bar high. We will continue to build off of this success and I believe we will have a great season."
 
Tournament Information  

WHAT: Patriot Open
WHERE: Williamsburg, Ky.
WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 4

Individual Highlights 
 

• Chad Strickland earned UM's first win with an 8-1 decision over Mason McClung from Cumberland's.
• Colt Brown placed 3^rd in the 125 division as he went 5-1 on the day. His third-place win was a 21-6 technical fall over Marian's Logan Richardson.
• Cory Jones placed 5^th in the 125 class with a 4-2 record after a no-contest win in the fifth-place match.
• Trent Gilham finished second in the 149-weight class with a 4-1 record in the event. He advanced to the finals with a sudden victory win over Cumberland's Conner Burrus.
• Marquez Hunt placed 4^th in the 165 division. Hunt went 4-2 on the day and won four straight matches to advance to the third-place match.
• Brycen Turner placed 5^th in the 174 division with a 3-2 record on the day. A medical forfeit over Lourdes' Evan Perry secured the placement.
• Aiden Knight placed third in the 174 bracket. He earned two consecutive wins to begin bracket play before falling to his teammate, Hussey in the quarterfinals by decision, 2-1. Knight defeated Lourdes' Niko Christo by decision 14-8 to place third.
• Derek Hussey went 5-0 on the day and won the 174 bracket with a 4-3 decision over Cumberland's Anthony Pyron.
• Savian Graham placed fourth and went 4-2 on the day. He advanced to the third place match by a no-contest win.
• Mark Pennison went 6-2 on the day, posting the most wins of any Falcon, to finish 5th in the 197 bracket. His fifth-place win came over Indiana Tech's Blaine Kubasta with an 8-4 decision.
• Gabe Hixenbaugh went 5-0 to win the 133 open bracket. He defeated Marian's Anthony Hughes by technical fall, 15-0 in the championship match. He earned two technical fall wins and one major decision.

 
Team Highlights 

• Montevallo posted 10 placers, three finalists, and two champions in the program's first-ever competition.

 
Up next, the Falcons will face their first dual of the year on the road against Newberry on Wednesday, Nov. 8, at 5 p.m.